Dishwashers!!

[millimollimandi]

OK, more a WWYD, but I am curious - I don't have an opinion on who is right or wrong but interested in WWYD.
We need a new dishwasher. Ours is unrepairable after 11 years. We are OK financially and in the last few years when stuff has needed replacing we have gone high(ish) end and paid for a superior product. We have learnt over the years that you do (in general) get what you pay for. We have been hand washing up for about 9 months until we could be arsed to sort out the dishwasher (relevant).
Ok, a disagreement between me and my DH.
One of us wants to buy an expensive dishwasher with a 2 year guarantee. Say for arguments sake £1000. The other wants to buy a cheap one - say £200 - and take out insurance from the seller for another £200 which gives a 5 year parts and labour warranty. The one that wants to buy the expensive one says it would be too much hassle if the machine went wrong to get someone in to repair it. The other says we have been hand washing up for months with no problem. A dishwasher isn't like a washing machine in that isn't an essential. Getting an expensive one with warranty isn't an option as the cost of warranty goes up exponentially, so would be prohibitively expensive. WWYD?

I wouldnt bother with the £200 warranty (I wonder how many people actually claim on the warranty?) You would be better off just buying a new one if it breaks within 5 years, which is unlikely.

I would compromise on a dishwasher that's £500 or so.

Just replaced our basic Miele. Which lasted 8 years before needing a visit from Miele at a very expensive call out. Factored in the cost of a repair and decided to buy a new one. This time went for Siemens which purchased from John Lewis with their two year guarantee plus three years from Siemens gives us five years. It is in their clearance sale for £429. We paid £45 for the old one to be taken away and the new one installed. It was delivered at 7am and installed and running a programme before 7.30am. So far working okay but one word of warning NEVER go out or go to bed when a dishwasher is on. Before the Miele we had a Bosch and at 8 years old and without any warning it burst into flames. Our fire alarm saved our home.

Download a manual from the manufacturer's website for the model(s) you're thinking of.

You might come across some gems to avoid like one I found in a Zanussi manual which said there were no user-replaceable parts in the dishwasher. So I'd have to pay for repairs plus an expensive callout charge if, say, a spray arm fell off, apart from how am I supposed to clean out a spray arm if I can't put it in the sink?

So I bought a Bosch instead, a Series 6 carrying a made in Germany label, which works brilliantly. I've switched off its ability to text me and nag me to top up the rinse aid.

Absolutely no need to spend 1k on a dishwasher. Ours is integral and cost £250, it’s been going strong for a few years now and had no issues with it.

If you treat a product with respect it will generally be fine.

I would buy a cheap one and not bother with warranty.

Sounds like me and OH a few years ago, I wanted the Miele with a 5 years warranty, he insisted on a Bosch, £250 cheaper, then paniced and paid for a five year warranty!

I had an independent dishwasher engineer out to look at a problem with my AEG and he said it was the best machine available and what he had. Incidentally there was only one problem with mine and that was that I’d accidentally thrown away the mesh filter.

I would hate the cutlery tray, so much more of a faff than a basket.

I like the cutlery tray. I have one in my bosch loggixx

I couldn't go back to basket now I've experienced the cutlery tray at the top! So much easier & space efficient

Hate hate hate the tray.
They have shrunk the other 2 shelves to fit it in and our plates and pint glasses didn't fit any more. Cheers LandLord.

We can move heights of the drawers and pint glasses wash ok even if slightly tilted.

I've moved home, and got my trusty Bosch back - it was given to me by my Gran as a new baby present, so must be 11 years old now. And, I've got my cutlery basket back!
No more cutlery tray!!!

Appliances have to be fit for purpose for a number of years. So if something goes wrong, they have to fix it. If you pay for an extended warranty, you're basically paying out money when you're already covered by the Sale of Goods Act.

My dishwasher cost me £199 brand new 8 years ago. Never had a pick of bother (of course it's probably going to break now)

Get the Miele one!

I'd get a mid range one. It will last a reasonable time and a one year warranty is adequate. These warranties you add one are not good value for money apparently

Cheap one. No guarantee and hope for the best.

Which?'s best cheap dishwasher is the Kenwood KID60S18, scores 75% and is around £230.
Best freestanding is Miele G 6630SC, scores 89% costs around £850